I will be shocked if they start him. To your point, there is a lot of downside risk for both of them him actually playing well. These two seem like the type that would pimp their own daughter out if they thought it could benefit them.

IMO. they knew they were losing Sam So they needed a practice squad guy to run that unit. They had DJ and AR. Not sure any team actually depends on the 3rd string QB to actually play unless its an emergency.

As far as Rivers today. There was still a chance for us to make the playoffs until the Texans beat the Chargers. He took all the 1st team reps. Once it was done they let him play in front of his family and his team from Ala one last time.


I think you all will see Riley is about the same as Sam. And he wasn't a starter either.

That doesn’t make sense. The only reason Rivers is here is because of Steichen. So it’s more likely Steichen doesn’t want Leonard playing.

Why would Ballard not want Leonard playing?

Just got home. I was on the sidelines when some were out there warming up. Whomever said Riley can't throw a ball ifs fucking retarded. He was throwing 40 yard darts. Unlike Rivers fucking helium balloons he was launching.

That’s a fair point regarding the practice reps.

However, I’m not sold on Leonard being about the same as Sam. Certainly not in terms of arm talent.

Sam would never have been able to make that Hail Mary throw today. His arm has never been strong enough to play in the NFL.

The biggest mark agains Leonard that I have is that after watching cuts from his college career, he:

A. Has issues throwing from the pocket; he would much prefer to roll-out.

B. Tends to pull the ball down too quickly and run.

Both of those can work in college; neither work long-term in the NFL because everyone is at least as good of an athlete as you.

His arm strength was never in doubt.

While the odds are against him, I would rather have seen Leonard play these last four weeks and lose just like Rivers did but get some development than do the experiment we did with Rivers. Rivers entertained me but did nothing to advance the team.

How was being on the sideline vs being in the stands?

He has a pretty live arm, he just has a wildly inaccurate arm. To me, he is not as guess where it is gonna go as AR, but he isn't that far off either. The problem is it is particularly obvious when he is given a well formed, 3-6 second NFL type of pocket. It's like he can't relax and just throw it in those situations so he aims it instead.

I will say his improv game, especially on designed pocket rolls, is pretty solid. He did that shit to ND against them and that's why they had him as their QB doing that shit to others last year.

He is undoubtedly a tough and competitive kid though. His performance in the natty last year was testimony to that.

In hindsight that is the right decision. But we were still in playoff contention. It would be malpractice for them to not even try to get a better option at QB

Once Rivers came in they saw he was the better option. So he was signed

I am not sure why this is so hard for people to see. They were fighting to the end for a playoff spot. It's now over and NOW they can throw Riley in

Could he play lights out? Maybe. If so that will make the FO look very very bad. But I don't see that happening.

I like Leonard. I root for and watch ND But he has nver impressed me as a starting QB in the NFL

When I was down there watching him he didn't make one bad throw. He had nobody in his face either so you have a fair assessment. I'll admit I didn't watch much ND football last year. I am also not advocating he is our savior. I am advocating that I have seen enough of the dog and pony show. AR is just bad at football and I do not want to watch another washed up QB get trotted out there. DJ is not elite, but we can win with him. However, until something is seriously done with our front 7 we are fucking fodder for the other AFC teams.

If Ballard wanted Leonard to play no way we get Rivers, Steichen is not writing checks, the decision to bring in Rivers was up to Ballard and ultimately CIG. If Leonard performs well, even if Steichen wanted Rivers, it won't reflect on him nearly as bad as on Ballard.

I would really like some of you to explain to me what you think a GM's job is, because anytime things go badly for this team it is never the GM's fault?:rolleyes:

I don’t see why anything has to change as far as running the same offense they intended or visualized running with AR, Leonard isn’t as athletic as AR but he’s more athletic than Minshew with a better arm.

What the hell are you talking about? Steichen and Rivers go way back. They talk every week on the phone. Rivers himself said it was Steichen who asked him to come back. It was Steichen who wanted Rivers, not Ballard.

And it is ALWAYS the coach who determines who plays, not the GM. The GM builds the roster, the coach sets the depth chart.

Also, Leonard was a 6th round draft pick. If he plays poorly, that’s not going to make Ballard look bad. He’ll be like 1000 other late round picks who don’t pan out. Every GM who has ever lived has had draft picks who don’t work out.

I get that you hate Ballard but what youre trying to claim here is asinine. I’m not really sure what it is you’re claiming aside from “Ballard bad”.

That's what has me so incensed with the entire thing. I am not in any way hostile toward Rivers, give him his flowers for doing what he was able to do in these games, he is a competent competitive leader- good for him.

It's instead the fact that Leonard has been here for a long enough period, and plays the same game as DJ which opened up the playbook, that he SHOULD have been able to come in and be the QB and we should have been able to play the same style. The fact they didn't feel he was capable of doing the RPO's, designed rolls, the QB end arounds, to me is a huge black mark upon the coaching staff and why I am back in the camp that I want them all shit canned.

Steichen can't bring in Rivers because they go way back....you obviously don't know shit about who hires players. If Ballard already had a good QB on the roster why bring in Rivers? Why waste the money on him?

If Riley does well he makes Ballard and Steichen both look like idiots.

Stephen Holder
@HolderStephen
Postgame: Colts coach Shane Steichen said he’ll think over his QB decision the next couple of days and decide who will start in Week 18 at Houston.
4:22 PM · Dec 28, 2025
·
15.9K
Views

Because Rivers was who his coach wanted? What’s Ballard going to say, no? That’s insane. They were fighting for a playoff spot. Ballard isn’t a coach. He doesn’t call plays. If Steichen tells Ballard he has a better chance with Rivers, Ballard is going to sign Rivers. Regardless of what he(Ballard) thinks of Leonard.

I guess Belichick looked like an idiot when he played Bledsoe over Brady? Shanahan looked like an idiot when he played Trey Lance over Brock Purdy?

You hate Ballard but you’re making zero sense here.

That makes no sense. Shane wanted Rivers, and Ballard agreed. IF, big IF, Leonard plays well, it proves nothing.

Being on the sideline was fucking awesome. Some of these guys are a lot bigger up close, and some not as big as they look. I am right at 6ft. and I can look quite a few of our players eye to eye. Some were way bigger than I could imagine. I got to have a short conversation with Pierces mom. She was amazingly sweet and extremely proud of her son.

You are just trying to put all the blame of Steichen and giving Ballard the usual pass. Belichick would have looked like an idiot and so would have the GM if they didn't play Brady when Bledsoe got hurt, if they instead went out and got a 40+ year old retired QB and lost every game, then finally let Brady play and he looked great and earned the starting job...that is the correct analogy, not the straw man you created to protect Ballard!

OK. Completely different situations

You need to go back and research this. BB actually knew Brady had the potential, and when the opportunity came he put him in

This was not a normal 6th rounder. BB knew he was going to be good once he saw him in practice.

I don’t watch college football but his strengths according to most were

Toughness
Competitive
Grit

To me that’s a good foundation

o


In all my years of watching football since the early 1970's, the toughest son-of-a-bitch that I ever saw play quarterback was Ben Roethlisberger ...... if he broke his ankle, he would beg Mike Tomlin to let him go out there and play in a wheelchair.

The 2nd toughest SOB that I ever saw play quarterback was Tom Brady ...... when he was 39 years-old I saw him dive head-first, over-the-top of the defense into the end-zone from the one-yardline, because it was a crucial TD late in the season when the Patriots needed a win.

o

I can't argue with any of that.

We'll see how he does next week. But SS hasn't made the decision. It could be AR I am 99% sure it won't be rivers.

If that happens, it will make Steichen look dumb, not Ballard. By all accounts, it was Steichen who insisted on signing Rivers.

How does that make Ballard look dumb?

In a quote from Rivers earlier, if this is the last one, it will be the last one. I got 3 bonus games I never expected to have when I walked through the tunnel in Buffalo. I'm ok with it.

With that said we will see Leonard, or AR if activated. I would rather see Leonard. I already know Anthony is not good at football. I suspect Leonard is not good at football, but I would like my curiosity satisfied. The resounding census is one of these two will start next season. Even if they resign Jones, he won't be ready. With no number 1's the next two years I think Jones is our best option, as stupid as that sounds being majorly injured. There are no top tier free agents available next year. So for me its sink or swim at this point

It has to be Leonard. Give him all the 1st team reps, and see how he does.

Agreed. There is absolutely nothing to be gained by starting AR.

Leonard had the same amount of passing yards when he played against Jacksonville in a typhoon

A little off topic on my part but I gotta throw Luck’s name into the conversation where modern players are concerned. That poor bastard nearly got killed behind his OL yet Kept coming back for more.

I have a special respect for the guys I watched in the 70’s though. They were fair game for all manner of violence and expected to play hurt at a time when qb’s were not the beneficiaries of our modern rules. Bert Jones, Terry Bradshaw, Archie Manning, and Dan Pastorini were the toughest I ever saw. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few.

I saw Bradshaw get his nugget bounced off the ground. Some smelling salt and he was back out there playing. Modern QB'S have no idea how easy they have it as far as being protected. I agree Pastorini was a warrior during the game.

I was quite young but in 78’ I saw Stan White break Bradshaw’s nose during a preseason game. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone bleed so much after a play. He came out of the game but seemed to shake it off and was starting the following week iirc. It scared the crap out of me at the time lol.

Billy Kilmer was an average qb but he was one tough son of a bitch

Bradshaw was definitely as tough as they come.

https://youtu.be/t_BuDursFIg?si=RRrGImvhvi1_hguU

I'm pretty sure Peyton Manning played with a broken jaw.

I really can't explain it any better than I have, the internet is full of people who understand my point and agree that bringing in Rivers (again Ballard's decision, not Steichen's no matter how much he wanted him) would look like a foolish move if Leonard plays better in Houston.

So BB knew Brady was that good all along but played Bledsoe instead....do you realize how stupid that sounds?

Bringing in Rivers was a desperate move that did nothing to move the needle for this team. We continue to find new and interesting ways to lose, almost like it is in our DNA. Maybe some new DNA making the decisions is needed.

“New and Interesting Ways to Lose” lol. Sounds like a really bad self help book or dubious community college course.

Stephen Holder said on twitter they started Rivers because it was the last home game and they wanted the stadium full

So nothing to do with winning. Tracks